Materials science and engineering awards several scholarships in 2016

At a Nov. 2, 2016 event, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering recognized 29 undergraduate recipients of scholarships funded through the generosity of its alumni and friends. Scholarships are one way the department seeks to ensure that no student who has the capacity and drive to earn a UW-Madison engineering degree is blocked from doing so for financial reasons. “The cost of higher education continues to increase, and while UW-Madison remains more affordable than some institutions and a remarkable value, we recognize the burden that the cost of education can place on our students and their families,” says Professor Paul Voyles, who is chair of the department. “Our congratulations go out to the scholarship recipients and we extend our sincere gratitude to the supporters who make those scholarships possible.”

View photos of the scholarship recipients, below. Their scholarships include:

Carl R. Loper Junior Undergraduate Scholarship

Loper earned his PhD in metallurgical engineering from UW-Madison in 1961, then joined the department as a professor. With Professor Richard Heine, Carl wrote the leading textbook in metal casting and was internationally recognized in the field. He had deep connections to the metals industry in the state and did extensive consulting in failure analysis in materials and foundry operations.

Theodore D. Tiemann Undergraduate Scholarship

Theodore D. Tiemann earned his BS, MS and finally a PhD in 1933 from what then was known as the UW-Madison Department of Mining and Metallurgy. After a stint in industry, interrupted by service in World War II, he joined the department as a professor in 1959 and served until 1978. He was an extractive metallurgist and mineral processing specialist whose research and consulting took him throughout the upper Midwest, working on mining iron ores and underwater mining, including studies of manganese nodules in Green Bay. He was devoted to his students and spent much time working one on one with them on their assignments and especially lab reports, where he emphasized clear, concise communication.

John Deere Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is supported by the John Deere Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the John Deere Company. The John Deere Foundation supports solutions to end world hunger, education—especially in science and engineering—and community development. The foundation supports engineering education at UW-Madison because innovation is one of its core values.

Ian M. and Victoria L. Robertson Engineering Scholarship

College of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson and his wife Victoria recognize the cost of an undergraduate education and the rigor and demands of an engineering degree. They established this scholarship to help enable the success of an engineering student with the hope that one day he or she will do the same for a student in the next generation.

Frank J. Worzala Memorial Scholarship

Worzala earned his undergraduate degree at UW-Madison, then returned to the department as a professor, then chair, a position he held until he retired in 1996. His engineering work in metals and metal processing led him to work with Trek Bicycle on new materials for bicycle rims and to research that led a then-student to found Thermal Spray Technologies, now a successful company in Sun Prairie. Worzala also is remembered for his athleticism; he was a gymnast and head cheerleader as a UW-Madison undergraduate, and an avid bicycler, cross-country skier, and a runner throughout his life. He also is remembered for his dedication to his family, his friends, his colleagues, and above all, his students.

Harry M. Clarke Scholarship

Harry Clarke earned his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from UW-Madison in 1934, then spent a successful career in the steel industry, eventually becoming a vice president of Bliss and Laughlin Steel. Along the way, he established steel plants in Mexico, India and Japan. Clark and his wife Juanita established an endowment that funds many scholarships (this year, for 19 students) that help students who have financial need to afford their engineering education.